Bengaluru Second Airport: Karnataka Identifies Three Harohalli Sites Amid Land and Environmental Challenges

Bengaluru’s search for a second airport has expanded to Harohalli, where Karnataka has identified three potential land parcels for the proposed greenfield airport. The shortlisted locations, however, come with a set of challenges that could complicate the site selection process and potentially extend the project timeline.

The Harohalli region, located in the Kanakapura area, came under consideration after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar suggested exploring the location in July. Lower land prices and the possibility of easier land acquisition were among the factors behind the move.

Officials from the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department said the three locations have been identified, but none is currently free of constraints.

The first site is close to a residential settlement in Harohalli. Acquiring the land could require significant rehabilitation, potentially making the process lengthy despite comparatively lower land prices than parts of South Bengaluru.

Moving the proposed site farther from the residential area could create another issue, with the proximity of Bannerghatta National Park raising concerns over the potential impact of airport operations on wildlife.

The second shortlisted location has land that has already been acquired for the Satellite Town Ring Road. Any decision to use the site would therefore have to consider the existing road alignment and related infrastructure.

At the third location, a large hillock could create difficulties for runway construction. Officials said removing the hard-rock formation is technically possible but would be challenging. The vegetation in the area will also need to be assessed.

One possible approach is to combine portions of the three shortlisted locations, although this could require changes to the STRR alignment.

The Harohalli sites are around 18 km from earlier locations identified at Chudahalli and Somanahalli near Kanakapura Road. Those sites span approximately 4,800 acres and 5,000 acres respectively.

The addition of Harohalli means another feasibility assessment will be required. The Airports Authority of India had earlier assessed Chudahalli, Somanahalli and Gudemaranahalli near Nelamangala. The final feasibility study being undertaken by Meinhardt-KPMG is expected by September 2026.

The government’s decision on Harohalli will therefore be closely watched, as the suitability of the land, environmental considerations and infrastructure connectivity will determine whether the location can progress towards Bengaluru’s proposed second airport.